Shutter structure



Jan 5, 1965 K. B, NORENBERG 3,163,893

SHUTTER STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 7, 1961 United States Patent .F

3,163,893 STER STRUCTURE Knute B. Norenberg, 1502 th Ave. S., Minneapois, Minn. Filed Aug. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 129,745 5 Claims. (Ci. 20-62) This invention relates to shutters, and particularly to improved methods for constructing same.

Conventional shutters consist of elongated side members which are joined together by transversely disposed end members, which side and end members provide a frame which deiines an area therebetween which contains various types of inserts such as paneling, screening or a plurality of movable louvers.

The side and end members are conventionally joined together by butting and gluing the at opposing edges thereof wherein the glue is applied to the opposing surfaces to be joined after which the members are pressed and held together until the glue hardens and a suitable joint has been effected therebetween. This frequently results in the glue being expressed or'squeezed out from between the abutting faces of themembers onto the exposed outer facesl of the members adjacent the joint with the glue thus expressed from between the joints marring the appearance of the shutters, particularly when appearing on the front or top face of the shutter. As a result, the manufacturer of the shutters is put to the inconvenience and additional labor and expense of carefully inspecting each of the shutters and removing this glue exposed to view on the faces of said members which j increases his cost of operation and the cost of the shutters to the purchaser.

The expressed glue usually sets before it can be removed and adheres strongly to the wood, thereby making it diiiicult to remove and may result in defacing of the exposed surface during removal thereof or pitting due to small portions of the wood being removed with the glue, depending on the means employed to eifect removal of the glue.

Furthermore, in many conventional shutter structures the top marginal edges of both members at the joint therebetween are normally exposed to view and any aw or defects in the edge portions of the abutting members is exposed to view further detracting from the appearance thereof and requiring a higher degree of nishing of the abutting edges of the members prior -to their being joined together. Also, when shutters of this type having an exposed joint between ythe side and end members are subjected to repeated expansion and contraction due to repeated changes in temperature and humidity conditions during use, the members become separated thereby presenting to view arr undesirable spacing between the members.

ln addition, in conventional louv-ered shu'ters, the construction is such that when the louvers are completely closed, a space remains between the marginal edge of the end-most louvers and the opposing marginal edges of the end members of the frame, through which light can escape.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a novel method of constructing shutters which eliminates the aforementioned problems and results in a shutter which is more attractive in appearance and of sounder construction than shutters presently available.

Still another object is to provide a method of constructing shut-ters which prevents the glue from being expressed onto the outer face of the jointed members, which provides a concealed joint between the members which conseals any iiaws in the edges of the butted members and thereby reduces the degree of finishing required on such 3,163,393v Patented Jan. 5, 1965 ice edge portions and which reduces the amount of inspection required at the point of manufacture.

Stili another object is to provide a joint between the members of a shutter in which any spacing between ythe members caused by separation thereof due to ambient temperature and humidity conditions will be concealed from view.

Still another object is to provide a shutter construction with a novel type ofrconcealed joint which will prevent unpainted or unstrained portions of the jointed members from becoming exposed to view if separation should occur after painting or staining thereof.

Still another object is to provide a novel louvered shutterwhich eliminates any undesirable exposed spacing between the end members and the louvers.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, kand in which:

FG. l is a front elevational view of a shutter of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end plan view of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a tranverse section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FiG. 4 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale taken along the lines 4 4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the joint shown in FIG. 3.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description of my invention. The shutter shown in the drawings comprises a frame formed by a pair of elongated side members 10 andY a pair of end members 11 and 12 which are joined to the side members in edge abutting relationship. The central area defined by said frame is provided with a plurality of elongated transverselyV disposed louvers 13 which are hingedly connected to the side members by means of the laterally'extending hinge pins 13 which are jour-nalled in the sockets 16a provided in the lower inner edge portions of the side members. All of the louvers are operatively connected to an elongated longitudinally movable operating rod 14 for simultaneous opening and closing movement of the louvers. A recess 11a is provided in the top face of the upper end member 11 for receiving the adjacent end of the operating rod when the louvers are fully closed and the rod has reached the limit of its upward travel.

The inner edge of each of the. side members 10 is prot vided with'an elongate concave groove or cove 15 which extends the full length of each of the side members. TheV joins with the upper edge of the cove to deiinefa groove 'for receiving the end members to join the end and side members together.

The top of .the abutting edges of the end members 11 and 12 are each provided with laterally extending tongue portions 17. The top surfaces of the tongues are co-extensive with the top or front surfaces 11b Vand 12b of the end members and constitute continuatons thereof. The underside 17a of the tongues yare convexly curved to the same curvature as the coves 15 for mating abutting engagement therewith. The tongues are seated in the grooves :formed by the coves and ridges 16 in close fitting 'relationship therewith, thereby joining the end side members together, the members being held together by glue disposed between the interfaces of the coveand tongue and between the lower portion 10d of the side members and thelowerportion of theend inembe'rs abutting therewith. `The top `marginal edge portion 17b of the tongue underlies and is overlapped by the ridge 16 and is preferably in'engagement with the rear portion of the underside ther-.eo'fto 'form asealing relationshiptherebetween kto prevent glue escaping tinto said top marginal edge l portion.

Thus, when the glue is applied lto the mating surfaces of the cove and the convex portion of the tongue, and fthe side and end members Vare Vpress 'fitted together, the close fitting relationship between `the upper marginal edge portion of the tongue and the ridge effects a seal which substantially 'prevents any lglue from being expressed from between the mating surfaces onto the top surface of the end members. Y

Furthermore, should any :minute amounts of glue accidentally seep throughonto the top lmarginal edge portions of the tongue, it is connedto the areaimmediately adjacent the marginal 'edge of the tongue and is overl'ain and concealed by the ridge `and, therefore, does not have to subsequently beremoved since it cannot be seen and does not mar the appearance of the shutters. The concealment ofthe marginal edge `portion of the tongue by the overlapping ridge member is also of importance because it conceals any minor flaws or defects in thevmarginal edge portion 'such as minor chipping 'and thelike. If thisfmarginal Vedge lportion were exposed to view in the 'finished product, these Aflaws and defects would'mar theappe'arance thereof Aresult-ing in a lowertluality product andif the'manufacturer desired j'a higherquality product, he would be required to perform a more accurate finishing 'operation on said marfgin'al'ledge 'portions of thend members.

The 'upwardly and outwardly curved underside 16a of therid'ge also'provides lan important advantage because it enables the paint or stain applied to the shutters after 'assembly ito"penetrate and cover most of the top marginaliedge-portin l'17in ofthe tongue overlain by the 'ridge Thus, ifthe 'side and end members ybecome slightly separated 'during use due to repeated expansion and contraction caused by ambient temperature and humidityconditions, no unpainted or unstai'ned portion will appear to view :aswould be the caseif theiunderside of the ridges wereiiush withthe top surface ofthe tongue throughoutthe `entire extent thereof. lIn addition to the important features previously recited, the rounded overlapping ridge also materially improves the appearance of the yshutters `and the cooperationof` theridge with `the tongue provides a `'strong durable structure.

It Willalso'benoted'that the lower portion "10d of the inner edges of 'the side members extends lbeyond Vthe ridges 16. Thus, ithe unoccupied portions 'ofthe coves 15 intermediate the'end'members are'exposed toview when Iseen from the front, the ridges and coves combining to provide aunique vvand attractive appearance heretofore not available. t u U Attention isinextdirectedtothe con-structionof the inneredge portions of the end'm'embers 11' and 12'(best'seen in'TIG. 4) toiprevent:undesirable-spacing fand escape of light between theend memberslandlthe upper and lower louvers I13a and 13b 'respectively when the'louversare completely closed. The front innermarginal edge' of the bottom en d member' 12 is provided With `a curved groove orj'c'ove 18Vsimilar`tothecoves 1,5 'which extends the fullle'ngth of the end member so Ias to cooperate with the VcovesfS and the cove on the otherend member I1 to providea continuous coved -fr'ameabout the louvers 'which substantially'improves the vappearance of the shutters. The back inner lr'narginal edge of the bottom end rnember'lZ is lalso provided'withfacurved groove or cove 19 which also extends the full length ofthe end (member and provides a recess vfor receiving the lower end of the lower louver 13b when the louvers are completely closed. Thus, when the louvers are completely closed, the lower end of the bottom louver 13b is disposed below and overlaps the top marginal edge 20 of the bottom end member so as to prevent any vertical spacing therebetween and the-escape of light.

The lower edge portionof the top end member 11 has a curved groove or'cove 21'formed in the front marginal edge thereof which extends `the full length of the end member and cooperates with the coves 15 in the side members and the cove 18 in the bottom end member to provide -a coved frame about the `entire circumference of the flouvers. The backlower marginal edge of the top end member 11 Iis provided with a depending lip 22 which is designed and 'adapted toextend below the top marginal Vedge of the top louver 13a when said louver is completely closed. Thus, the lip 22 and the top marginal edge portion of the louveru13a overlapr'eachother when the louvers are closed and prevent undesirable spacing between the louver and the end member and the escape ofrlight :from therebetween. Y

Thus, fromthe foregoing, the advantages of this invention are readily apparent. The curved overlapping ridge conceals the joint between the side and end members and the top marginal edge of the end members; cooperates withthe laterally extending tongue ofthe end members to seal the joint between the mating surfaces of the side and end member and prevent the'escape of 'glue therebetween ontothe front 4surface of the end member; conceals any glue which might escape onto the marginaledge of the tongue of the end member, and also conceals any flaws or defects in the marginal edgeportion of the tongue. The curved nature ofthe underside'of vthe overlapping 'ridge prevents unsightly unpainted portions 'of "the marginal edge of the tongue from appearing if the sides an'dmembers become slightly separated during use. The curved overlapping ridge 'by itself 'and in combination with the coving framing'the louvers materially contributes to the appearance of the shutters and sharply'disti'nguishes them from shutterslpresently available, and the inner c dgecon-` Vstruction of the 'end members eliminates undesirable spacing relative to the closed louvers.

5It will, of course, be'understood that various changes 'may be 'madein the form, details, arrangement 'and proportionsy of the various parts Without departing from the 'scope of'my'inve'ntion.

What I claim is:

1*. Frame'structure which Vincludes two frame members joined together in 'edge abutting relationshigoe of said members rhaving a portion extending laterally Yfrom Vits -abutting edge portion in overlapping relationship to ythe abutting edge portion of the other member, s'aid last named abutting edge portion being an extension'of an outerface of said other'rnember, said face being exposed to View inthe finished article embodying 'said frame struc ture, the underside of said overlapping portion 'which communicates with the'marginaledge thereof vand isopvp'c'otsled to said face being in spaced'apart relationship therewi 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein a portion lof the underside of the overlapping portion engages'said outer face of said other member.

n3. Frame structure which includes firstr and second frame members joined together in edge 'abutting relationship, said rst member having `an outerface whichgis exposed to View in the finished article embodying said frame structure, said second member having a groove formed in the abutting edge portion thereof, said first member having a tongue portion seated in said-groove, one side of said tongue being a continuation of said outer face of first member, said tongue andouter face having'acommon marginal edge, the abutting side of said second` member having a portion which overlaps and conceals said marginal edge and engages said outer face, a portion of the underside of said overlappingv portion which communicates with the outer edge of said overlapping portion and is opposed to said outer face being spaced from said outer face.

4. A shutter frame comprising elongate side members and transversely disposed elongate end members, the ends of which are in edge abutting relationship with the inner edges of said side members, said inner edges of said side members having an elongate inwardly facing cove formed therein extending ,longitudinally of said side members, said end members having flat outer faces exposed to view in the iinished article embodying said frame, the ends of said end members having tongue portions extending outwardly therefrom and seated in said coves, one side of said tongue portions being a continuation of said outer faces of said end members, said tongues and their respective outer faces having a common marginal edge, the undersides of said tongues being convexed to substantially the same curvature as the coves in which they are seated so as to abut therewith, said side members having elongate inwardly and longitudinally extending ribs which overlap and conceal said marginal edges of said end members, the inner end portions of the undersides of said ribs engaging said outer faces of said end members, the outer end portions of the undersides of said ribs which communicate With the outer edge of said ribs being spaced from said outer faces.

5. A shutter having a frame consisting of elongate side members and transversely disposed end members, the outer ends of said end members being in edge abutting relationship with the inner edges of said side members, said inner edges of said side members having an elongate groove formed therein extending the full length of said members and defined by opposed spaced apart inner edge portions of said side members, the abutting edges of said end members having laterally extending tongue portions, one side of which constitutes a continuation of one of the faces of said end members, said tongues being seated in said grooves in close iitting relationship therewith whereby the marginal edge portion of said one side of said tongue is overlapped and concealed by one of said inner edge portions, the marginal edge Vof said overlapping inner edge portion being set back from the marginal edge of the other inner edge portion whereby the interior of said grooves unoccupied by said end members are exposed to view when said shutters are viewed directly from the side thereof on which said overlapping inner edge portion'is located, and wherein the rear portion of the underside of said overlapping inner edge portion is in sealing engagement with said tongue and a portion of the underside of said overlapping inner edge portion communicating `with Y the marginal edge thereof and opposed to said end member is spaced from said end members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 317,798 Keller May 12, 1885 533,203 Stange Jan. 29, 1895 643,552 Squires Feb. 13, 1900 2,482,918 Kump Sept. 27, 1949 2,607,087 Triller Aug. 19, 1952 

1. FRAME STRUCTURE WHICH INCLUDES TWO FRAME MEMBERS JOINED TOGETHER IN EDGE ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM ITS ABUTTING EDGE PORTION IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP TO THE ABUTTING EDGE PORTION OF THE OTHER MEMBER, SAID LAST NAMED ABUTTING EDGE PORTION BEING AN EXTENSION OF AN OUTER FACE OF SAID OTHER MEMBER, SID FACE BEING EXPOSED TO VIEW IN THE FINISHED ARTICLE EMBODYING SAID FRAME STRUTURE, THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID OVERLAPPING PORTION WHICH COMMUNICATES WITH THE MARGINAL EDGE THEREOF AND IS OPPOSED TO SAID BEING IN SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH. 